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INTERNATIONAL DAY
FOR BIOLOGICAL
DIVERSITY
http://www.eslHolidayLessons.com/05/international_day_for_biological_diversity.html

CONTENTS:
The Reading / Tapescript

Phrase Match

Listening Gap Fill

Listening / Reading Gap Fill

Choose the Correct Word

Multiple Choice

Spelling

Put the Text Back Together

Scrambled Sentences

10

Discussion

11

Student Survey

12

Writing

13

Homework

14

INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY


ALL ANSWERS ARE IN THE TEXT ON PAGE 2.

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INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

THE READING / TAPESCRIPT


The International Day for Biological Diversity, sometimes called
World Biodiversity Day, is a United Nations holiday based on
biodiversity issues. It started in 1993 and is held on May 22. This is
the date of the Rio Earth Summit of 1992. This was a major meeting
to discuss life on our planet. A total of 172 governments attended
the Summit, with a total of 108 heads of state. The main topics
were the environment and sustainable development. Governments
discussed ways to halt the destruction of irreplaceable natural
resources and to protect ecosystems. The day now focuses on the
threats climate change has on biodiversity. Experts say that tackling
both together will mean we have a better chance of keeping the
Earths natural riches.
Biodiversity is the total variety of all forms of life on our Earth. It
includes life at the genetic and cell level, through to all plant, fish,
insect and animal species. Biodiversity also includes the thousands,
perhaps millions, of ecosystems that make up our natural world.
The word "biodiversity" arrived in 1985. It is a contraction of the
words "biological and diversity". The word has grown into a very
important concept we all need to understand. A respect for
biodiversity means an understanding that we must help save our
environment. Today, biodiversity is one of the worlds most
important issues. Many say that together with climate change,
damage to biodiversity is the biggest threat to our survival.

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INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article.
Paragraph 1
1.

a United Nations holiday based

a.

of state

This is the date of the

b.

on biodiversity

3.

a total of 108 heads

c.

Rio Earth Summit of 1992

4.

the environment and sustainable

d.

on biodiversity issues

5.

the threats climate change has

e.

the Earths natural riches

6.

a better chance of keeping

f.

development

Paragraph 2
1.

the total variety of all

a.

important issues

It includes life at the

b.

to our survival

3.

ecosystems that make

c.

forms of life

4.

a very important concept we

d.

genetic and cell level

5.

one of the worlds most

e.

all need to understand

6.

the biggest threat

f.

up our natural world

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INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

LISTENING GAP FILL


The International Day for Biological Diversity, sometimes called World
Biodiversity Day, is a United Nations _________________ biodiversity
issues. It started in 1993 and is held on May 22. This is the date of the
Rio

Earth

Summit

of

1992.

This

was

major

meeting

_________________ our planet. A total of 172 governments attended


the Summit, with a total of _________________. The main topics
were the environment and sustainable development. Governments
discussed _________________ destruction of irreplaceable natural
resources and to protect ecosystems. The day _________________
the threats climate change has on biodiversity. Experts say that
tackling both together will _________________ better chance of
keeping the Earths natural riches.
Biodiversity is ___________________ all forms of life on our Earth. It
includes life at the genetic and cell level, _________________ plant,
fish,

insect

and

animal

species.

Biodiversity

also

includes

the

thousands, perhaps millions, of ecosystems _________________


natural world. The word "biodiversity" arrived in 1985. It is a
contraction of the words "biological and diversity". The word has
_________________ important concept we all need to understand. A
respect for biodiversity means an understanding that we must help
save our environment. Today, biodiversity ___________________
most important issues. Many say that together with climate change,
damage to biodiversity is _________________ to our survival.

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INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

WHILE READING / LISTENING GAP FILL


Put the words into the gaps in the text.
The

International

Day

for

Biological

Diversity,

sometimes

__________ World Biodiversity Day, is a United Nations holiday

major

__________ on biodiversity issues. It started in 1993 and is held

halt

on May 22. This is the date of the Rio Earth Summit of 1992. This
was a __________ meeting to discuss life on our planet. A total of
172 governments attended the Summit, with a total of 108
__________ of state. The main topics were the environment and

based
tackling
riches

to

called

__________ the destruction of irreplaceable natural resources and

focuses

to protect ecosystems. The day now __________ on the threats

heads

sustainable

development.

Governments

discussed

ways

climate change has on biodiversity. Experts say that __________


both together will mean we have a better chance of keeping the
Earths natural __________.
Biodiversity is the total __________ of all forms of life on our
Earth. It includes life at the genetic and cell level, __________ to

arrived

all plant, fish, insect and animal species. Biodiversity also

variety

__________ the thousands, perhaps millions, of ecosystems that


make up our natural world. The word "biodiversity" __________ in
1985. It is a contraction of the words "biological and diversity".
The word has grown into a very important __________ we all

issues
concept
threat

need to understand. A __________ for biodiversity means an

respect

understanding that we must help save our environment. Today,

through

biodiversity is one of the worlds most important __________.

includes

Many

say

that

together

with

climate

change,

biodiversity is the biggest __________ to our survival.

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damage

to

INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD


Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs of italics.
The International Day for Biological Diversity, sometimes / sometime
called World Biodiversity Day, is a United Nations holiday based at / on
biodiversity issues. It started in 1993 and is held on May 22. This is
the date of the Rio Earth Summit of 1992. This was a majors / major
meeting to discuss life / live on our planet. A total of 172 governments
attended the Summit, with a total of 108 hands / heads of state. The
main topics were the environment and sustainable development.
Governments discussed ways to hold / halt the destruction of
irreplaceable natural resources and to protect ecosystems. The day
now focuses on the threats / threaten climate change has on
biodiversity. Experts say that tackling both together will mean we have
a better chance of keeping the Earths natural rich / riches.
Biodiversity is the total / totals variety of all forms of life on our Earth.
It includes life at the genetic and cell level, thought / through to all
plant, fish, insecticide / insect and animal species. Biodiversity also
includes the thousands, perhaps millions, of ecosystems that make
up / down our natural world. The word "biodiversity" arrived in 1985.
It is a contraction of the words "biological and diversity". The word
has grown / growing into a very important concept we all need to
understand.

respect

for

biodiversity

means

meaning

an

understanding that we must help safe / save our environment. Today,


biodiversity is one of the worlds most important issues. Many say that
together with / by climate change, damage to biodiversity is the
biggest threat to our survival.

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INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

MULTIPLE CHOICE
The International Day for Biological Diversity, sometimes (1) ____ World
Biodiversity Day, is a United Nations holiday based on biodiversity issues. It
started in 1993 and is (2) ____ on May 22. This is the date of the Rio Earth
Summit of 1992. This was a major meeting to discuss (3) ____ on our
planet. A total of 172 governments attended the Summit, with a total of 108
(4) ____ of state. The main topics were the environment and sustainable
development. Governments discussed ways (5) ____ halt the destruction of
irreplaceable natural resources and to protect ecosystems. The day now
focuses on the threats climate change has on biodiversity. Experts say that
(6) ____ both together will mean we have a better chance of keeping the
Earths natural riches.
Biodiversity is the total variety of all forms of life on our Earth. It includes
life at the genetic and cell (7) ____, through to all plant, fish, insect and
animal species. Biodiversity also includes the thousands, perhaps millions, of
ecosystems that (8) ____ up our natural world. The word "biodiversity"
arrived in 1985. It is a (9) ____ of the words "biological and diversity". The
word has (10) ____ into a very important concept we all need to
understand. A respect for biodiversity means an understanding that we must
help (11) ____ our environment. Today, biodiversity is one of the worlds
most important issues. Many say that together with climate change, damage
to biodiversity is the biggest (12) ____ to our survival.

Put the correct words from this table into the article.
1.

(a)

calling

(b)

calls

(c)

called

(d)

caller

2.

(a)

held

(b)

hold

(c)

holds

(d)

holding

3.

(a)

live

(b)

life

(c)

alive

(d)

lives

4.

(a)

feet

(b)

hands

(c)

heads

(d)

backs

5.

(a)

at

(b)

for

(c)

by

(d)

to

6.

(a)

tackle

(b)

tackled

(c)

tackles

(d)

tackling

7.

(a)

levelled

(b)

levelling

(c)

level

(d)

leveller

8.

(a)

make

(b)

take

(c)

wake

(d)

rake

9.

(a)

contract

(b)

contraction

(c)

contracting

(d)

contracts

10.

(a)

growing

(b)

grown

(c)

growth

(d)

grew

11.

(a)

saver

(b)

savings

(c)

saviour

(d)

save

12.

(a)

threat

(b)

threaten

(c)

treat

(d)

treats

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INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

SPELLING
Spell the jumbled words (from the text) correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.

a United Nations holiday deasb on biodiversity

2.

This was a ramoj meeting

3.

172 governments edtatdne the Summit

4.

Governments eicdsduss ways to halt the destruction

5.

irreplaceable natural ssrecrueo

6.

keeping the Earths natural ehsric

Paragraph 2
7.

the total tevryai of all forms of life

8.

at the tegcien and cell level

9.

ilnismlo, of eco-systems

10.

a otnrncatoic of the words "biological and diversity"

11.

A erpcset for biodiversity

12.

the biggest threat to our srvilavu

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INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER


Number these lines in the correct order.
(

ways to halt the destruction of irreplaceable natural resources


and to protect ecosystems. The day now focuses

mean we have a better chance of keeping the Earths natural


riches.

to understand. A respect for biodiversity means an understanding


that we must help save our

level, through to all plant, fish, insect and animal species.


Biodiversity also includes the thousands, perhaps

1 )

millions, of ecosystems that make up our natural world. The word


"biodiversity" arrived in 1985. It is a contraction

of the words "biological and diversity". The word has grown into
a very important concept we all need

Biodiversity is the total variety of all forms of life on our Earth. It


includes life at the genetic and cell

environment. Today, biodiversity is one of the worlds most


important issues. Many say that together with climate

of 108 heads of state. The main topics were the environment and
sustainable development. Governments discussed

1992. This was a major meeting to discuss life on our planet. A


total of 172 governments attended the Summit, with a total

on the threats climate change has on biodiversity. Experts say


that tackling both together will

change, damage to biodiversity is the biggest threat to our


survival.

on biodiversity issues. It started in 1993 and is held on May 22.


This is the date of the Rio Earth Summit of

The International Day for Biological Diversity, sometimes called


World Biodiversity Day, is a United Nations holiday based

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10

INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With a partner, put the words back into the correct order.

1.

on

2.

Rio

3.

major

4.

natural

halt

5.

Earths

keeping

6.

of

variety

7.

up

natural

8.

understand

we

9.

our

help

10. to

based

the

holiday

Earth

on

save

threat

U.N.

date

meeting

Summit

our

all

must

biggest

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This

planet

the

life

ecosystems

biodiversity

we

the

of

resources

forms

our

need

life

the

of

all

world

important

environment

survival

11

is

riches

make

very

the

discuss

irreplaceable

natural

the

of

to

destruction

total

issues

our

that

to

concept

INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

DISCUSSION

(Write your own questions)

STUDENT As QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)


1.

________________________________________________________

2.

________________________________________________________

3.

________________________________________________________

4.

________________________________________________________

5.

________________________________________________________

6.

________________________________________________________

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-----------------------------------------------------------------------------INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

DISCUSSION

(Write your own questions)

STUDENT Bs QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)


1.

________________________________________________________

2.

________________________________________________________

3.

________________________________________________________

4.

________________________________________________________

5.

________________________________________________________

6.

________________________________________________________

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INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY


THE INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY SURVEY
Write five questions about International Day For Biological Diversity in the table. Do this
in pairs/groups. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.
Without your partner, interview other students. Write down their answers.

STUDENT 1

STUDENT 2

STUDENT 3

_____________

_____________

_____________

Q.1.

Q.2.

Q.3.

Q.4.

Q.5.

Return to your original partner(s) and share and talk about what you found out.
Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.
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INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

WRITING
Write about International Day For Biological Diversity for
10 minutes. Show your partner your paper. Correct each
others work.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
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INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

HOMEWORK
1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words
from the text. Use a dictionary or Googles search field (or
another search engine) to build up more associations /
collocations of each word.
2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find more information
about International Day For Biological Diversity. Talk about what
you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about
International Day For Biological Diversity. Write about what
happens around the world. Include two imaginary interviews with
people who did something on this day.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give
each other feedback on your articles.
4. POSTER: Make your own poster about International Day For
Biological Diversity. Write about will happen on this day around
the world.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give
each other feedback on your articles.

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